Wheel cover



Oct. 23, 1956 ca. A. LYON Re. 24,229

WHEEL COVER Original Filed Dec. 28'. 1949 ZZTZZ'EfiZ UF 620205 /94 85,97A yo/v United States Patent WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon, Detroit,Mich.

Original No. 2,690,357, dated September 28, 1954, Serial No. 135,467,December 28, 1949. Application for reissue April 16, 1956, Serial No.578,553

Claims. (Cl. 301-37) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets II] appears inthe original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention .relates to improvements in Wheel structure andparticularly concerns improvements in the ornamentation and protectionof the outer sides of vehicle wheels by means of novel cover structure.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwheel structure having removable cover means at the outer side thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wheel coverassembly wherein a novel trim ring structure is arranged to be mountedin self-retaining relation on the outer side of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cover structurefor the outer side of a vehicle wheel including improved means forretaining engagement of the cover with the tire rim of the wheel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved trim ringstructure adapted to be mounted in association with a centrally mountedhub cap on a wheel and with the trim ring in self-retaining associationwith the tire rim of the wheel.

According to the general features of the present invention there isprovided in a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-flangetire rim having a generally axially outwardly projecting terminalflange, a wheel cover assembly including a circular cover member havingits outer margin in closely adjacent relation to the terminal flange ofthe tire rim, said outer margin having an axially inwardly extendingflange of a diameter to lie in assembly in radially inwardly spacedrelation to the tire rim terminal flange and having a plurality ofgenerally radially rand axially outwardly extending short and stiffretaining fingers grippingly engaging with the inner face of theterminal flange and releasable by radial flexure of the axiallyextending flange upon the application of a pry-oif tool to the outermargin of the cover intermediate said retaining fingers.

According to other general features of the invention there is providedin a wheel cover adapted to be applied to the outer side of a wheelhaving thereon a hub cap and including a multi-flange tire rim having aterminal flange, an annular cover member having an inner margin arrangedto rest against the crown portion of the hub cap and having an outermargin arranged for substantial concealing relation to the tire rim andformed at its outer margin with a generally axially extending flangestructure arranged to lie generally parallel at the inside of the tirerim terminal flange and including radially and axially outwardlyextending short retaining finger means grippingly engageable with theinner face of the terminal flange.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a vehicle wheel showing a coveraccording to the present invention applied to the outer side thereof;

Re. 24,229 Reissued Oct. 23, 1956 Figure 2 is a diametrical sectionalview taken substantially on the line II'-II of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the cover of thepresent invention.

As shown on the drawings:

According to the present invention a cover assembly 10 is arranged to beapplied in protective, ornamental relation to the other side of avehicle wheel including a wheel body 11 and a tire rim 12. The wheelbody is preferably formed as a stamping from appropriate gage sheetmetal and comprises a central bolt-on flange 13, a radially outermarginal attachment flange 14 and an intermediate annular axiallyoutwardly extending reinforcing nose bulge 15. The tire rim 12 is formedin a suitable fashion such as by an appropriate rolling process fromappropriate gage sheet metal and includes a base flange 17 to which theattachment flange 14 of the wheel body is appropriately secured, a sideflange 18, an intermediate flange 19 and a terminal flange 20. Theflanges of the tire rim are formed in the conventional drop center styleadapted to support a tire and tube assembly 20a.

The wheel cover assembly 10 includes a hub cap 21 which may be of moreor less standard shape including a large convex crown, a side flange 22turned under and inwardly and terminating in a turned retaining flange23 cooperating with spring clips 24 [attached to the bolt-on flange 13for retaining the hub cap in seated relation on the nose bulge 15. Ifdesired the center outer face of the hub cap crown may be provided withany appropriate applied or impressed medallion or other indicia 25,identifying the make of automobile with which the hub cap is being used,or the like.

The cover assembly 10 also includes a trim ring member 27 which is ofgenerally ogee cross-section generally simulative of the outer side ofthe wheel and extending from the terminal flange 20 to and intooverlapping relation with the hub cap 21. The radially outer portion ofthe annular cover member 27 extends axially inwardly into the relativelylarge axially outwardly opening groove defined between the outerportions of the tire rim and the nose bulge portion 15 of the wheelcover, while a radially inner portion of the annular cover memberoverlies the radially outer marginal portion of the hub cap crown andhas a generally radially and axially inwardly extending more or lessfrusto-conical flange 28 terminating in an underturned beaded andreinforced edge 29 which rests against the hub capcrown and is of adiameter to expose the central portion of the crown including themedallion 25.

According to the present invention the annular cover member 27 isself-retaining on the wheel and for this purpose has the outer marginthereof formed with a generally axially inwardly extending, cylindricalflange 30 which is of a smaller diameter than the terminal flange 20 ofthe tire rim but in assembly lies in relatively closely spaced relationthereto. The flange 30 has a plurality of generally axially inwardlyextending relatively wide and tapered extensions 31 which terminate inshort generally radially and axially outwardly extending terminalflanges 32 which are of a tip extent or of a diameter slightly greaterthan the inner face of the tire rim terminal flange 20 so that inassembly the tips of the terminal flanges 3'2 engage retainingly ingripping retaining relation with the inner surface of the tire rimterminal flange 20. As best seen in Fig. 2, the tip or terminal portionof the terminal flange 20 may extend generally cylindrically andtherefore the retaining gripping engagement of the tips of the terminalretaining flanges or fingers 32 eifects a thorough retention of thecover on the wheel. By reason of the fact that the flange 39 iscontinuous around the perimeter of the cover each of the retainingfinger extensions 31 is equally stressed upon application of the coverand radial inward stress on the short and stiif retaining fingerterminal flanges 32. Since the terminal finger extensions 31 are quiteshort, preferably being not longer than the terminal portion of theterminal flange 20 a high degree of resilience is attained.

By having the retaining finger portions 31 and the remainder of theflange 30 in radially inwardly spaced relation to the inner surface ofthe terminal flange 20, a pry-off tool can readily be applied betweenthe margin of the cover and the terminal flange for prying the coverfree from the tire rim. Upon applying the pry-ofi' tool into the gapbetween the edge of the annular cover member 27 and the tire rimterminal flange 20, and applying pry-oil force, the retaining fingersare stressed and the cover is moved slightly diametrically away from theportion of the tire rim at which the pry-01f force is applied so thatthe adjacent retaining fingers are relaxed and will slide outwardly onthe terminal flange. By applying the pry-off force at successive placesalong the margin of the cover, the cover is gradually pried free fromthe wheel.

In applying the annular cover member 27 to the wheel, it is generallycentered with respect to the tire rim flange 20 and is pressed inwardly,the finger extensions 3] [retaining fingers 30] stressing inwardly asthe retaining terminal flanges 32 engage with the inner surface of theterminal flange 20.

The arrangement of the annular cover member 27 is preferably such thatbefore the retaining finger extensions 31 [fingers 30] are pressed fullyinwardly, the engagement margin 29 at the inner edge of the annularcover member engages against the crown of the hub cap 21 and uponfurther axial movement of the annular cover member, the annular covermember is placed under stress against the hub cap to retain the sameagainst rattling.

It will thus be apparent that the present cover assembly is adapted tobe applied either to a new automobile at the factory or the annularcover member 27 may be applied to an existing automobile as anaccessory, utilizing the existing hub cap and cooperating with the hubcap in as sembly to provide an attractive, protective, ornamental coverfor substantially the entire outer side of the vehicle wheel.

The gap between the directly axially extending marginal flange 30 andthe terminal flange 20 and the spaces aflorded by the recesses orcutbacks in the edge of flange 30 afford liberal passage for aircirculation from behind the cover and through the usual wheel openingsfor brake drum cooling purposes.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a multi-flange tirerim having a generally axially outwardly projecting terminal flange, awheel cover assembly including a circular cover member having its outermargin in closely adjacent relation to the terminal flange of the tirerim, said outer margin having an axially inwardly extending flange of adiameter to lie in assembly in radially inwardly spaced relation to thetire rim terminal flange and having a plurality of generally radiallyand axially outwardly extending short and stiff retaining fingersgrippingly engaging with the inner face of the terminal flange andreleasable by radial flexure of the axially extending flange upon theapplication of a pry-E tool to the outer margin of the coverintermediate said retaining fingers, said marginal cover flange being ofapproximately the same overall width as said terminal flange so that theouter side of the edge of the cover lies not substantially outside ofthe plane of the tip of said terminal flange and is protected therebyagainst curbing and like damage.

2. In a wheel structure including a body portion and a tire rimincluding a generally axially outwardly extending termipal fla g a. hubcap retained upon the wheel body, and an annular cover member having aninner margin retainingly overlapping the margin of the crown of the hubcap, said annular cover member having a series of axially inwardlyextending retaining fingers having generally axially and radiallyoutwardly projecting short terminal flanges retainingly engaging thetire rim terminal flange, the inner margin of the annular cover memberbeing maintained under stress against the crown of the hub cap by theinterengagement of the retaining fingers with the tire rim terminalflange.

3. In a wheel structure including a body portion and a tire rimincluding a generally axially outwardly extending terminal flange, a hubcap retained upon the wheel body, and an annular cover member having aninner margin retainingly overlapping the margin of the crown of the hubcap, said annular cover member having a series of axially inwardlyextending retaining fingers having generally axially and radiallyoutwardly projecting short terminal flanges retainingly engaging thetire rim terminal flange, the inner margin of the annular cover memberbeing maintained under stress against the crown of the hub cap by theinterengagement of the retaining fingers with the tire rim terminalflange, said retaining fingers being of substantially the same length asthe depth of the inner face of the terminal flange.

4. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a tire rim, the tirerim having a terminal flange extending generally axially outwardly andhaving a substantially cylindrical inner face, a circular cover memberdisposed in substantial covering relation to the outer side of the wheeland having an outer marginal formation fitting inside of the terminalflange and including a plurality of generally axially inwardly extendingretaining fingers of a length substantially equal to the depth of theinner face of the terminal flange and having short generally radiallyand axially outwardly extending'retaining finger terminal flangesgrippingly engaging endwise against the inner face of the tire rimterminal flange, the extreme axially outward extent of said cover outermarginal formation being substantially within the plane of the tip ofthe tire rim terminal flange so as to be protected thereby againstcurbing or like damage in service.

5. In a wheel structure including a wheel body and a tire rim having agenerally axially outwardly extending terminal flange, a circular wheelcover in covering relation to the outer side of the wheel and having anouter margin lying in radially inwardly spaced relation to andsubstantially in the plane of the tip of said terminal flange to atforda gap with said tip, said cover margin including generally axiallyextending retaining fingers lying on a circumference spaced from theinner face of the tire rim and formed with generally radially andaxially outwardly extending retaining terminal flange extremitiesretainingly engaging endwise against the inner side of the tire rimterminal flange to retain the cover in place, the gap between the outermargin of the cover member and the tire rim terminal flange tipaffording access to a pry-off tool in prying the cover free from thewheel.

6. In a wheel structure including a hub cap and a multi-flange tire rimhaving a terminal flange, an annular cover member having an inner marginarranged to rest against the outer side of the crown portion of the hubcap and having an outer margin arranged for substantial concealingrelation to the tire rim and formed at its outer margin with a generallyaxially extending flange structure arranged to lie generally parallel atthe inside of the tire rim terminal flange and including radially andaxially outwardly extending short retaining finger means grippinglyengageable with the inner face of the terminal flange.

7. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body attachedto the tire rim and atfording therewith wheel openings for ventilationpurposes, the tire rim having a generally angular terminal flangestructure including a portion extending generally axially outwardly anda portion extending generally radially inwardly, a cover for the outerside of the wheel including an outer marginal portion for substantiallyconcealing the tire rim and having an axially inwardly extending narrowmarginal flange not substantially wider than the axially extendingportion of the terminal flange, said cover flange having generallyaxially and radially outwardly extending short terminal grippingportions engaging retainingly against the inner side of said axiallyextending terminal flange portion, said cover flange having intermediatethe gripping terminal portions cut back recessed portions [recesses] inthe inner edge of the flange to afford air circulation passages frombehind the cover through the cover flange past said radially extendingportion of the tire rim terminal flange, said out back recessed portionsbeing generally circumferentially arcuate between said grippingportions.

8. In a wheel structure including a tire rim having a radially outerterminal flange, a supporting member for the rim and a detachable hubcap at the center of the supporting member, an annular wheel coverhaving an outer peripheral margin terminating in an inwardly extendingcover retaining flange including an axially inwardly extendingcontinuous flange portion, said flange portion being recessed at spacedintervals and having resiliently yieldable finger extension portionsalternating with the recesses and each of which is formed into aradially outwardly extending element for tensioned resilient retainingengagement with said terminal flange, said cover having a radially innerturned edge for bottoming against said hub cap when the cover is on thewheel.

9. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a wheel body attachedto the tire rim and the tire rim having a generally angular terminalflange structure including a portion extending generally radiallyinwardly and an outer comparatively narrow terminal lip portionextending axially outwardly, a circular cover for the outer side of thewheel including an outer marginal portion for substantially concealingthe tire rim and having an axially inwardly extending narrow marginalflange substantially coextensive in width with the width of said axiallyextending terminal lip portion, said cover flange having generallyaxially and radially outwardly extending short terminal grippingportions engaging retainingly against the radially inner side of saidaxially extending terminal lip portion and provided between said grppingterminal portions with transverse cut back recessed portions havinglateral side edges oppositely inclined toward adjoining grippingportions.

10. In a wheel structure a wheel including a central supporting wheelbody and a flanged tire rim attached thereto having at its axially outerside a generally angular terminal flange structure including a firstportion extending generally radially inwardly and a comparatively narrowterminal lip portion having a generally axially outwardly extendingsurface facing but at a substantial angle to said first portion and acircular cover for disposition on the outer side of the wheel includingan outer marginal portion for substantially concealing the tire rim andhaving an axially inwardly extending narrow marginal flange inside ofand generally paralleling said axial lip surface, said cover flangehaving generally axially and radially outwardly extending relativelyshort stifj terminal gripping portions engaging retainingly against saidaxial lip surface, said cover flange having at least its inner edgeprovided with cuts transversely between said gripping terminal portions,said terminal gripping portions merging at opposite sides in oppositelyinclined flange portions at the extremities of said transverse cuts.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,467 Lyon Feb. 12, 1935 1,944,658 GriflithJan. 23, 1934 2,102,471 Lyon Dec. 14, 1937 2,368,228 Lyon Jan. 30, 19452,368,238 Lyon Jan. 30, 1945 2,383,071 Mulhern Aug. 21, 1945 2,404,389Lyon July 23, 1946 2,404,390 Lyon July 23, 1946 2,421,383 Lyon June 3,1947

